My 12 year old daughter loves to read! I am constantly asking other parents for book recommendations but I really prefer to hear what a child enjoys reading.
So when I found myself chaperoning a 6th grade retreat, I used it as an opportunity to ask each child this question:
What is your favorite book you’ve ever read?
There were several repeats.
The reading difficulty varied.
But every book had one thing in common. It was someone’s favorite.
I compiled their answers into this list.
40 Middle Schoolers all-time favorite books:
(I have not read each of these, so I am including an affiliate link to Amazon so you can read a description)
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Hidden Series, The Found Series, and the Double Identity Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Basher Five-Two: The True Story of F-16 Fighter Pilot by Captain Scott O’Grady
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Dragon Slippers Series by Jessica Day George
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Ascendence Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Eric Liddell: Something Greater than Gold by Janet Benge and Geoff Benge
11 Birthday Series by Wendy Mass
Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan
The Tale of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
Code Orange by Caroline Cooney
Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper
The Canterwood Crest Series by Jessica Burkhart
Hoot By Carl Haissen
Davy Crocket: His Own Story by David Crockett
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
The Book of Elsewheres by Jacqueline West
Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
Summer of Monkey by Wilson Rawls
Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Chomp by Carl Heissen
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
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- The Not-So-Perfect 1st Day of School
Also check out these 10 Encouraging Books for your Tween/Tween Girl about being a Tween.
For more ideas for this age, check out these Pinterest Boards:
Great question. There are several books I’d like to read, plus I have a 5th and 7th grader, so yeah, I love this list!
So glad. I definitely want to read some of these as well. I loved seeing a bunch of classics thrown in there.
Thanks for sharing this great list with your readers! There are quite a few books here that I know my son will enjoy a lot. My youngest son was having difficulties adjusting to certain social aspects of his young life. As someone who works full time, we are unable to take care of a pet. I was recommended a book, that I would also like to share with you called “Watson’s Way” by author Joel Lund (http://bit.ly/WatsonsWay). My son and I read this book together every night for a couple weeks and it really changed his outlook. The author uses his family dog to teach life lessons such as how to be a more patient person, and how to better get a long with others. There is something so pure about learning these things from an innocent animal and my son really seemed to enjoy it. We laughed at times and even cried, but overall I feel we both came out of the experience as better people. There is even a place in the book for kids to write in a journal if they want to! I highly recommend it 🙂
What a great recommendation Deborah. Thank you for sharing.
Such a good list! I loved Star Girl.
I have read at least half of these and they are very good, I would especially recommend the Chronicles of Narnia, Dragon Slippers series, and the Mysterious Benedict Society series. For anyone who enjoyed the Mysterious Benedict Society I would recommend Drift House by Dale Peck.
Another great book is The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex. I’m in eighth grade, and it’s been my favorite book for a while. 🙂 I posted a review about it on my blog if you want to check it out: https://clarasbookreviews.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/the_true_meaning_of_smekday/.
I’m in eighth grade my favorite books are the hash hash saga
Thanks Liv. We will definitely check them out.
Thanks for this list. I am moving from elementary to secondary and want to begin compiling an appropriate classroom library. Since most of my students will be 9th graders who still struggle with reading, a middle school list is just perfect. I was glad to see that I already own quite a few books from the list, so I won’t have to purchase as many. Thanks, again.
So glad is it useful Rita. Enjoy the challenge and excitement of a new age. Teachers make such a difference in the lives of children. Thank you.
Hi I’m 12 years old and all of these are true I’ve read almost every one and another good book I’ve read is the twilight series
Thanks so much. I find recommendations from the kids actually reading the books are the most compelling. Thank you for contributing. If you have any others you think of, id love for you to list them. Thanks again. Happy reading.
My fav books are the hunger games and I am 10
Ooh, I have heard that a lot! I know adults who also love those books. Thanks for sharing.
It’s hard to believe not one student chose the Harry Potter series!
I was thinking the same thing!
Hello! I am 12 years old. I read your list of recommendations and find it great! I’ve read a few of these books and they are wonderful. My favorite book that is not on this list would have to be “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli. Thank you for posting this resource.
I really enjoyed The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle when I was around that age.
WE just finished “the girl who drank the moon”. Great book. My dtr couldn’t stop reading it